05.02.05 10.00am
Wellington Airport is this morning again blanketed by thick fog for the fifth day in a row making the streak the worst in airport staff's memory.
Fog first prevented flights arriving and departing on Tuesday night and since then the airport has been able to open only intermittently during breaks in the fog.
Airport duty manager Stephen Rybinski this morning told NZPA all four international flights scheduled this morning had been able to leave but all other flights in and out had been cancelled after the fog thickened at about 3am. Air New Zealand and Qantas had suspended check-in, Mr Rybinski said.
"There's quite a blanket around the area and it will probably stay until lunchtime." He said the five-day stretch of fog was the worst in his 14 years at the airport and was likely to be a record given the capital's notorious wind.
"Passengers are getting a little upset but obviously there's nothing we can do until that fog clears."
Mr Rybinski said the terminal was quite quiet as most people had chosen to stay home this morning until hearing flights were up and running again. He said no flights had been diverted today -- they had all been cancelled. "It's pretty bad here -- just as bad as yesterday. I don't think there's a lot of wind out there.
Major Centres
Auckland
Rain
27.0°
21.0°
Wellington
Some cloud
23.0°
19.0°
Christchurch
Some cloud
22.0°
18.0°
Hamilton
Some cloud
28.0°
20.0°
Dunedin
Some cloud
23.0°
17.0°
National Summary
Updated Saturday 05 Feb 2:59PM
Northland:
Humid, with occasional rain and some heavy falls.
In the east from Auckland to Gisborne, also Taupo:
Mostly cloudy with patchy rain.
In the west from Waitomo to Wellington, also Taihape:
Fine apart from cloudy periods. Isolated showers till tonight north of Kapiti Coast, possibly with thunderstorms north of Palmerston North.
Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa:
Extensive low cloud or fog, with areas of drizzle near the coast.
Buller and northern Westland:
Mostly cloudy with a few showers.
Southern Westland and Fiordland:
Fine at first apart from coastal fog. Rain developing about Fiordland overnight and spreading north during Sunday.
Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury:
Mainly fine apart from areas of low cloud or fog along the east coast. A few showers about the ranges till this evening, possibly with thunderstorms, and again from midday Sunday.
Otago and Southland:
Fine at first apart from low cloud near the coast. Scattered rain developing Sunday.
Chatham Islands:
Low cloud or fog, with drizzle at times.
National Long Range Forecast
Updated Saturday 05 Feb 1:59PM
Monday
North Island, rain spreading over most of the Island from the northwest but remaining dry in the southeast. South Island, rain in the west, with a few heavy falls possible, and some rain or showers spreading to most remaining areas, some heavy showers in the afternoon south of Christchurch.
Tuesday
Some rain or showers over most of the country, becoming fine in the south of the South Island.
Wednesday
Fine or becoming fine in most places. However, some afternoon showers in inland North Island areas, and cloud increasing in the west of the South Island, with some rain south of the Glaciers.
The weather in Antarctica is (Crystal Ice Chime) is:
Scott Base
Some cloud
-3.0°
Updated Saturday 05 Feb 3:59PM
